NYC firm hired to study transit options for Broadway-West End

Created 01/27/2011 - 3:47pm

The Metro Transit Authority on Thursday announced it has hired New York City-based planning and engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff to perform a transportation study of the Broadway-West End corridor.

The 12-month study, which is to identify preferred transportation investments for the corridor, is the first step in putting Nashville in line to receive federal dollars for a potential urban streetcar, light rail or bus rapid transit to commute passengers along one of the city’s busiest and most prestigious stretches.

MTA secured a $1.18 million federal grant and matched it with $437,800 to fund the study.

“I am pleased the MTA board took this action, which is the first step in making the investments that need to be made in improving the way our citizens and visitors travel along this extremely busy and vital corridor,” Mayor Karl Dean said.

According to the mayor’s office, the newly hired firm, a Nashville office for which will oversee the effort, will collect data, perform analyses and seek input from those who work, live or travel along the corridor through focus groups and other means.

Two steering committees will be formed. A Technical Advisory Committee is to include representatives of MTA, the Metro Planning Department, the Nashville Area Metro Planning Organization, Metro Public Works Department and the Tennessee Department of Transportation. A Corridor Steering Committee is to include local businesses, organizations and other stakeholders.

“Our strategic master plan identified this corridor as one with tremendous opportunity for growth and transit capacity,” MTA board chair Freddie O’Connell said in a statement. “From the riverfront, down the heart of Broadway, through major academic and healthcare corridors, we expect the opportunities for transit-oriented development and ridership to be exceptional. So we're delighted to be embarking on this study.”